Dredge for collecting or gathering bivalves.



No. 667,580., Patented Feb; 5. I90l. R. F. ROGERS. DREDGE FOR COLLECTING OR GATHERING BIVALVES.

(Applicgtion filed Nov. 8, 1900.) (No Model.)

"cams FEYERS m. Pnomm'uu. wAsHmurou n c UNITED STATES ROBERT F. ROGERS, OF BUTLERS LANDING, TENNESSEE.

DREDGE FOR COLLECTING OR GATHERING BIVALVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,580, dated February 5, 1901.

Application filed November 8, 1900. Serial No. 35.828. (N0 model.)

To it whom it may concern:

. Be it known that 1, ROBERT F. Roenns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butlers Landing, in the county of Clay and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredges for Collecting or Gathering Bivalves; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to dredges for collecting or gathering bivalves, and more particularly mussels, which are found at the bottom of rivers in large beds and which are so positioned that their large ends are down and their small or tapering ends up.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

With this object in View the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved dredge, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes the head of the dredge, which consists of the arms a and the rectangular frame I), to which the arms are attached. The head is provided with an operating-rod 2.

3 denotes the prongs of the dredge, the end ones of which may be of any well-known or approved construction, while the side or coacting ones are each made of spring material of any desired shape in cross-section, straight from b to c, inclined outwardly from c to d, v

and straight and vertical from (Z to 6. Each prong is secured to the rectangular frame against rotary or twisting movement and has its lower end provided with an inclined face j, formed with a shoulder g.

In operation when the dredge is forced downward into a bed of mussels the side prongs will be spread apart by the wedgeshaped end of the mussel, thus permitting the mussel to pass above the shoulder 9. Each succeeding mussel is forced past this shoulder,and the mussels finally rise up the straight passage formed by the corresponding straight portions 1) o of the prongs until they are lodged in the basket formed by the inclined portions from c to d of the prongs. After the dredge has been filled it is raised and the mussels dumped out from the open rectangular frame.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended explanation. The device is exceedingly useful for the purpose for which it is designed and may be placed upon the market at a comparatively small cost.

Various changes in the form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-.

1. An oyster-dredge provided with coacting prongs consisting of a body portion inclined from d to c and straight from c to b, the lower contiguous ends of each prong being beveled and formed with a stop-shoulder, substantially as set forth.

2. In an oyster-dredge, the combination with the frame, a head attached to the frame and provided with an operating-handle, of opposing prongs each of which consists of a vertical straight portion having a straight upper end, an inclined intermediate portion, and a straight lower end, the contiguous faces of which are beveled and are formed with stopshoulders, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT F. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

S. B. ANDERSON, T. W. ROBERTS. 

